Re: Mass Transit 2 the Disneyland Resort

The maglev proposal would link Las Vegas with Anaheim, Calif., while the DesertXpress proposal would include a line between Las Vegas and Victorville, Calif., with plans to tie it to the voter-approved California high-speed rail system in the future.

The release also followed media reports in which maglev spokesman Mark Fierro criticized Reid’s redirecting of $45 million that had been earmarked for the maglev project to a highway project at McCarran International Airport.

Reid, a long-time maglev supporter, switched his allegiance to the DesertXpress project in June. While Reid characterized the switch as a result of a lack of progress by the maglev developers, critics have said the turnabout occurred because DesertXpress backer Sig Rogich had months earlier organized a group of Republicans in support of Reid’s re-election.

"I have no ill will toward the people behind the maglev project and want it to be clear that no one, including me, is stopping them from moving ahead with their project," Reid’s release said. "During the many years I supported maglev, Congress made more than $50 million available, including a $45 million appropriation in 2008.

"We are now well into 2010 and maglev has failed to come up with the 20 percent match needed to obtain these federal funds, which is why I reprogrammed the $45 million for a transportation project in Southern Nevada that will actually create jobs right away," the release said. "While Nevadans are rightfully impressed with the maglev technology, they, like me, just want to see something get done. DesertXpress is ready to break ground and put Nevadans back to work this year."

Re: Mass Transit 2 the Disneyland Resort

The idea of creating a public park out of thin air above the Hollywood Freeway may not be a pie-in-the-sky notion anymore.

Rep. Xavier Becerra (D-Los Angeles) has agreed to request $5.85 million to launch planning for the park. That’s viewed as a crucial early step and vote of confidence.

“We were surprised,” said Laurie Goldman, president of the non-profit created to spearhead the effort, Friends of the Hollywood Central Park. “We didn’t think we would make it this round, but we did. It doesn’t mean we will get what we asked for, but it’s a huge first step of many steps.”

Re: Mass Transit 2 the Disneyland Resort

Transit executives from Los Angeles and Orange counties are pressing officials with the state's high-speed rail project to consider resurrecting a plan to share existing track between Anaheim and downtown L.A.'s Union Station.

The idea was considered and discarded by the California High-Speed Rail Authority in 2008, but key local leaders believe it could save up to $2 billion and avoid the need to condemn hundreds of homes and businesses. Bullet train officials have been pursuing the more costly and disruptive option of adding their own exclusive tracks and widening sections of the 34-mile route through the region's dense industrial and residential core. The existing corridor is used by Metrolink and Amtrak passenger trains as well as freight carriers.

Re: Mass Transit 2 the Disneyland Resort

Using the existing right-of-way should be expected. Using existing rail lines in the right-of-way seems pretty dumb. I suggest lower than or higher than current grade. These trains will be going too fast, and too frequently (every five minutes??), for at-grade transport.

"Here You Leave the World of California Today and Enter the World of, um, er, California Today."

Re: Mass Transit 2 the Disneyland Resort

A top executive at a firm that operates the nation’s largest train manufacturing plant and has expressed interest in involvement with the state's proposed $43-billion high-speed rail line is expected to be named to head the agency overseeing the project, The Times has learned.

Roelof van Ark, president of Alstom Transportation Inc., a subsidiary of a French-based conglomerate, is scheduled to be introduced at a California High-Speed Rail Authority meeting Thursday.

Re: Mass Transit 2 the Disneyland Resort

Originally Posted by sediment

Using the existing right-of-way should be expected. Using existing rail lines in the right-of-way seems pretty dumb. I suggest lower than or higher than current grade. These trains will be going too fast, and too frequently (every five minutes??), for at-grade transport.

They can go at-grade ONLY if they grade separate the streets instead - streets and highways need to be converted from grade crossings to bridges or overpasses everywhere.

It's a Whole Lot Cheaper to build street bridges or underpasses every 1/4 mile than a continuous raised viaduct for many miles - the only time you do that is where you have a very narrow ROW between historic buildings on each side, and "up" is the only practical way. Heck, a long trench for the tracks (like the Alameda Corridor) costs less than a raised Viaduct.

And in an urban environment like we have here, they should have started work on that a long time ago - Most all train wrecks in the urban environment have been train versus vehicles at grade crossings, with a few vehicles deliberately driven onto the tracks from a grade crossing. (And a smattering of 'Suicide By Train' or just plain idiot pedestrians on the tracks.)

Train wrecks or incidents originating solely from a train fault like a wheel breaking or a track failure are very rare.

Re: Mass Transit 2 the Disneyland Resort

They can go at-grade ONLY if they grade separate the streets instead - streets and highways need to be converted from grade crossings to bridges or overpasses everywhere.

It's a Whole Lot Cheaper to build street bridges or underpasses every 1/4 mile than a continuous raised viaduct for many miles - the only time you do that is where you have a very narrow ROW between historic buildings on each side, and "up" is the only practical way. Heck, a long trench for the tracks (like the Alameda Corridor) costs less than a raised Viaduct.

Lowered might be better, as long as the infrequent but drenching downpours do not affect the service.

"Here You Leave the World of California Today and Enter the World of, um, er, California Today."

free or subsidized charter bus transportation services to community groups for recreational, employment/training and educational purposes," according to the audit, which said past locations have included Disneyland, beaches, Cabazon Outlet Mall, Raging Waters, Hollywood Park. Groups such as Activities for Retarded Children (ARC), disabled groups and others would take advantage of the program.

Re: Mass Transit 2 the Disneyland Resort

Lowered might be better, as long as the infrequent but drenching downpours do not affect the service.

Where you are dealing with a 25' wide ROW between buildings or houses, and need to triple-track or quad-track it for the HSR and regional passenger AND freight, you make a hybrid.

Two levels - a cut-and-cover trench/tunnel like the Alameda Corridor for the freight, and then build the HSR and Passenger tracks on top. And electrify the whole mess so there isn't tunnel ventilation to worry about.

You could put electrified HSR and Passenger underneath (with an added bonus of underground stations out of the weather) and the Freight tracks on top, but then freight train weight starts being a concern. They do ship huge and heavy stuff like power substation transformers by rail.

Then again, put the freight in the tunnel and you restrict the height a lot. Passenger trains won't need to handle oversize loads.

Either way, if there's a localized downpour you have to at least slow the trains till it clears and they are sure the ROW is safe again. All it takes is one blocked drain culvert and you have a few thousand tons of train learning to surf, and the results won't be pretty.

Re: Mass Transit 2 the Disneyland Resort

As always, thanks for your colorful feedback guys.

Now, why does Councilwoman Wendy Greuel think Disneyland isn't a worthy destination for disabled kids. The woman used to work for Jeffrey Katzenberg at DreamWorks, she's no stranger to the entertainment industry. She should "get" Disneyland, it's an expression of the same concept as the world of feature animation.

Re: Mass Transit 2 the Disneyland Resort

PS the "raison d'ętre" of this thread and its predecessor were to advance integrated transit to and from the parks. Al reported on plans to integrate a AFG station into the new Lion King Garage, which would shuttle passengers down to Gate 3/Convention Ctr Station or over to ARTIC and the sports facilities. From there, Metrolink or CHSR trains would go up to the Los Angeles area and beyond.